Syllabus

Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies WGS 201

Fall 2018

Instructor: Dr. Oueslati-Porter

Office: Merrick Building, Suite 214-ED
Office Hours: M, W, F 10:00-11:00 (Or by appointment)
Email: CXO185@miami.edu
Phone: 305-297-0865

COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, we examine our gendered selves and society. We will study the contemporary
research on how intersections of gender, class and race influence sexuality, love, family, religion,
politics, law, work, education, and social change. We will investigate current “hot” topics, such
as U.S. masculinity and violence, college “hook-up” culture, and the social movements that
contest gender injustices.
Required Texts
Kimmel: The Gendered Society. Edition: 6th.
Kimmel & Aronson: The Gendered Society Reader. Edition: 6th.
(Available in the UM bookstore.)
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
Written and Verbal Answers to Assigned Readings Questions
Each day of class, you will bring in hand-written answers to the assigned questions based on the
assigned readings and videos. It is best that these hand-written answers stay in your notebook, so
that you can review them for your reflection papers. You will be called on to answer and discuss
these answers. 10% of grade. (10 points)
Online Exams
There will be three online tests during the semester. Each is cumulative. Tests will range from
twenty to forty multiple choice questions. Most of the questions will be based on the assigned
readings questions. The rest will be based on the assigned book chapters and class lectures. The
exams will be available on Blackboard. 30% of grade. (30 Points)

Reflection Papers
There will be three reflection papers due during the first ten weeks of the course. These papers
will be approximately five double-spaced pages each. You will write about a concept or concepts
covered in the course readings thus far. The purpose is to both reflect on the significance of the
concept, as well as to highlight what you have learned thus far. You must apply the concept to a
current event, an artifact of popular or high culture, or a personal experience. To be uploaded to
Blackboard. Twenty points per paper. 30% of grade. (30 points)
Final Paper
For the final paper, you will develop one of your reflection papers into a research paper. You
must address my feedback in this paper. You are required to include at least three outside
academic sources in this paper. This paper should be approximately ten double-spaced pages.
30% of grade. (30 points)
Grading Scale: A 100-94; A- 93-90; B+ 89-87; B- 83-80; C+ 79-77; C 76-74; D+ 69-67; D 66-
64; D- 63-60; F 0-59
Course Policies
1. Attendance: You may have one absence and you may be tardy twice per semester without
penalty. Any absence or tardy beyond one absence and two tardies will result in you
being marked down by five points in the overall class. This procedure will happen for
EACH additional absence or tardy.
2. Note that use of cell phones, computers, or any other devices during class will result in
student being marked absent and receiving the Five-point grade penalty.
3. You are expected to take hand-written notes in class. You may not use a lap top or other
computer to take notes during class.
4. Films and film clips are shown frequently in class. You are encouraged to take notes
during the films and during discussions about the films. You should expect test and essay
questions based on these films.
5. Extra credit opportunities will be announced in class. Extra credit is only available to
students who have done all assigned course work, including the daily written answers to
course questions. Students who have failed to complete any assigned work are not
eligible to receive extra credit. Extra credit will typically require students to attend an
on-campus lecture, write a hand-written summary of the lecture, and an analysis of the
gendered aspects of the lecture, and turn the paper in at the NEXT class meeting. One
point may be added to an exam grade if the student’s extra credit is approved.
6. Conduct in the Classroom: If students disrupt the teaching/learning process or act in a
disrespectful, threatening, or intimidating way toward the professor or other students,
they will be asked to leave the class.

ASSIGNMENTS & COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 Anatomy and Destiny?
8/20-24
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Where Does Gender Come From? (First Day of Class)”
“The Truth About Boys and Girls.” (Second Day of Class)
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 1
View Assigned Video:
“Me Too Now What?” Is Patriarchy on its way out? https://www.pbs.org/video/is-
patriarchy-on-its-way-out-sp8qzv/

WEEK 2 Gender in Biological Perspective

8/27-31
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Caveman Masculinity” and “Testosterone Rules.”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 2
“The Genderbread Person” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Az3m-qJeU
View Assigned Videos
“Me Too Now What” Culture of Complicity https://www.pbs.org/video/the-culture-of-
complicity-6tcihv/

WEEK 3 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective

9/3-7
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Coming of Age and Coming Out Ceremonies” and “Men as Women and Women as Men.”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 3
View Assigned Videos
“Sexism and the English Language” (The Economist)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uaBwAe2BhY
“The Second Jobs of WNBA All-Stars” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKnF1ov0NeQ
“A Village with No Men” (Broadly) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrnmBLB-UX4
Reflection Paper 1 Uploaded to Blackboard by Sunday 9/9

WEEK 4 The Development of Gender Stereotypes

9/10-14
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Dude, You’re A Fag…” “Pink Frilly Things…”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 4
View Assigned Videos
“Tough Guise 2” clip: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/10/15/tough-guise-2-a-
new-film-on-the-ongoing-crisis-of-violent-masculinity/
“The Bright Side of Masculinity in 2018” https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/bright-side-
masculinity-how-gender-roles-are-changing-2018/

WEEK 5 Gendered Relations

9/17-21
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Doing Gender, Determining Gender.” “Beards, Breasts and Bodies…”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 5
Assigned Videos
“The Last Abortion Clinic” https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/clinic/
Quiz 1 Due Sunday the 23rd by 11:00 pm

WEEK 6 The Gendered Family

9/24-28
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“At-Home Fathers and Breadwinning Mothers…” and “Good Gay Females and Babies’
Daddies…”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 6
View Assigned Videos
The Value of Women’s Unpaid Housework: http://www.health.com/relationships/working-
moms-dads-chores
Kids and Chores: Housework and Gendered Work: https://www.wnyc.org/story/7645-kids-
and-chores-housework-gender/
Reflection Paper 2 Uploaded to Blackboard By Sunday

WEEK 7 Gendered Education

10/1-5
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Spice Girls, Nice Girls…” and “That’s Just How it Is”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 7
View Assigned Video
“Behind the Post” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDX1fXzBdxw

WEEK 8 Gendered Religion

10/8-12
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Veiled Submission…” "That's What a Man is Supposed to Do" “Is Female Genital Mutilation
an Islamic Problem?”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 8
No videos this week because you have three assigned articles.

WEEK 9
10/15-17 (Fall Recess Thursday & Friday)
Read Only in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Rethink What you "Know" About High-Achieving Women” “Unmasking Manly Men.”
View Assigned Videos
“Me Too Now What?” Is Masculinity in Crisis? https://www.pbs.org/video/masculinity-in-
crisis-ssflna/

WEEK 10 Gendered Work

Week 10. 10/22-26
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“The Gender Revolution…” and “Racializing the Glass Escalator…”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 9
Assigned Videos
“Me Too Now What?” The Accuser and the Accused. https://www.pbs.org/video/the-
accuser-and-the-accused-fnc15l/
Reflection Paper 3 Uploaded to Blackboard Sunday

WEEK 11 Politics of Gender

Week 11. 10/29-11/2
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for article in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Life Satisfaction Across Nations…” “Who Takes the Floor and Why”
“Life As A Young Woman Candidate” https://www.npr.org/2018/07/02/624984471/life-as-a-
young-woman-candidate-fending-off-older-men-and-being-an-outsider
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 10
Exam 2 Due 11/4 by 11:00 pm

WEEK 12 Gendered Media

Week 12. 11/5-9
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Own it!” “The Unequal Weight of Discrimination”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 11
View Assigned Videos
Watch an episode of “Queer Eye” on Netflix (or find one on youtube).

WEEK 13 Gender, Friendship, and Love

Week 13. 11/12-16
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
“The Gender of Desire…” and “Sexual Harassment and Masculinity” “When the Rapist Doesn’t
See it as Rape.”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 12
Assigned Videos
“Me Too Now What?” The Reckoning. https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-1-phd7qo/

WEEK 14 Thanksgiving Break 11/19-23

Read only in The Gendered Society Reader:
“Gender Rules…” and “Transgender Friendship Experiences…”
Assigned Videos
You don’t have any assigned videos, but I suggest you watch some episodes of a funny
feminist show like “Parks and Recreation” over Thanksgiving.

Week 15 Violence and Gender

Week 15. 11/26-30
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 13
Written Answers to Assigned Questions for articles in The Gendered Society Reader:
and “An Intersectional Analysis of LGBT People’s Evaluations of Anti-Queer Violence”
and “Good Guys with Guns…”
Reading from The Gendered Society: Chapter 14

WEEK 16
Week 16. 12/3-4
Student-led discussions.
Final Paper Due Friday December 7th by 11:59 pm.
Exam 3 Due Monday December 10th by 11:00 pm